Changes at the Blackbird Airpark

Google Earth coordinates 34°36'10.59"N 118° 5'8.22"W.

That is where the used to park the F117A. It looks now like they put the D-21 drone there and the F117A is gone.

Use the "history" feature to see the changes.

The T-117 has been retired for 5 years.

reply to post by F4guy


Whats a T-117?

Originally posted by gariac
Google Earth coordinates 34°36'10.59"N 118° 5'8.22"W.

That is where the used to park the F117A. It looks now like they put the D-21 drone there and the F117A is gone.

Use the "history" feature to see the changes.

They just recently added the F-117 to the park. I think you can slide it back and see it was added between July 2008 and June 2009. Then they swapped it for the drone between Dec 2011 and Aug 2012.

A couple months back someone on here posted about the F-19 being at Blackbird Park. They mistaked it for the drone. LOL.

The YF-117A (Article 783) was de-militarized for museum display at the Blackbird Airpark. That means they scraped off all the radar absorbent material (RAM) and removed radar absorbent structures. During initial restoration, these were replaced with other materials which were not ideally suited to the local weather conditions. High winds and extreme temperatures caused sufficient damage that the curator decided to move the airplane to Edwards for indoor display. It is currently in a hangar awaiting repair, and there is as yet no space in the Air Force Flight Test Museum facility. Money is being raised to build a new museum complex outside the west gate at Edwards.

The D-21B at the Airpark is due for a new paint job, and the museum staff hopes to repaint the A-12 prototype, as well.

reply to post by Shadowhawk


Well that is unfortunate. I have some photos of the plane when it was still there:
BB Park F117